MRO 2027: Coping With The Challenge Of The Next Five Years

With a growing fleet and an aviation market expected to be the third largest in the world, Indian aviation will need state-of-the-art MROs that can take care of the huge 1000-plus aircraft that the country’s airlines will acquire in the next decade. PULAK SEN decodes the MRO story and the road ahead at the halfway mark. A Special report.

- PULAK SEN

Airlines in India are going to add 15 per cent capacity or 100 to 110 aircraft per year and the aviation sector is looking at close to 1,200 aircraft by 2027.

The largest order ever placed by an Indian carrier is that the Tata group held Air India with 470 aircraft – a mix of Airbus and Boeing types (that has now been surpassed months later by the gargantuan 500 Airbus narrow-body aircraft order by Indigo at the Paris Air Show). Air India will be the first to induct the Airbus A-350 in India. Additionally, Air India has taken on lease 30 aircraft to meet the demand till it receives its aircraft. Akasa Air is adding steadily to its fleet of aircraft too.

Currently, Boeing has detected several issues with the manufacturing of 737 Max aircraft which could affect the deliveries required for the fleet expansion of Indian carriers like Air India and Akasa Air. The development came after Boeing discovered that a supplier used a “nonstandard manufacturing process" during the installation of the rear fuselage.

“This is not an immediate safety of flight issue, and the in-service fleet can continue operating safely. However, the issue will likely affect a significant number of undelivered 737 MAX aircraft, both in production and in storage. We have notified the FAA of the issue and are working to conduct inspections and replace the nonconforming fittings where necessary," Boeing said in a statement.

Indian Government Initiative

The 339th Report on the Action Taken by the Government to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on Demands for Grants (2023-24) of MoCAfurnishing of Action Taken Report. This report was presented to both houses in the Parliament on March 13, 2023.